Assessing the Teams

AustraliaLikely Team:
Gilchrist
Katich (they've stuck with him up to now)
Ponting
Hussey (will replace Martyn)
Clarke
Symonds
Hogg (or Warne if he makes a comeback)
Lee
Clark
Bracken/Clark
McGrath (Will be back in time for the world cup)

Strengths
Bat down to number 9
Big hitters - Pollock, Kemp, Boucher
Good opening bowling pair - Pollock (Accuracy)/Ntini (Aggression)
Finish the bowling well in the last 5 overs with Hall, Pollock, etc
Score a lot of runs in the last ten overs

Weaknesses
Often choke
Kallis and Dippenear can slow down the run rate
Not much bowling variety
Could have a new captain if Smith continues to fail

Prediction
Will be looking to make up for last time. Have never made a final but might be in with a chance.

Weaknesses
Top-order bats sometimes choose to crumble all in the same match .. not good
Dravid and Kaif get bogged down at times (this has improved though)
Harbhajan with the Kookaburra?
Will Tendulkar's injury woes go away?

Prediction
Definitely good enough to make the semis. From there, depends whether the chokers of old or a revitalized India shows up when the pressure is on.

Strengths
Explosive batsmen throughout the lineup
Late-order rearguard attacks from Razzaq and Akmal are huge
Seam attack has great potential

Weaknesses
Shotmakers may falter on a track with assistance for the seamers
Team Chemistry? It's been a problem in the past and could resurface.
Fielding needs to improve and Shoaib & Inzy need to stay fit

Prediction
Should make the SuperSix stage and have a good shot at the semifinals, their one-day formidability will be tested in the next few series

Strengths
Balance spin attack with one aggressive and one defensive, but both can adapt to the situation
Two of the best ODI batsmen in Sangakkara and Jayasuriya
Solid pace bowler in Vaas

Weakness
Batting line is very inconsisent
Rely to much on Jayasuriya and Sanagakkara to make big scores
Lack quailty seamers to back up Vaas
Lack a quailty lower hitter to finish off innings, but if Kappa or Maharoof develop they could fill that role
Atapattu, Jaywardene and Arnold tend to score too slow at times.

Prediction
Will make thre Super 8s, but will struggle to go further then that.

The man, the mountain, the Mathews. The greatest all rounder since Keith Miller. (Y)

Australia are the only side that we can bank on being in the semis IMO.

2-8 can easily beat each other on their day.

India hasn't been tested on foreign soil yet, but I personally think South Africa and India are a notch above the rest as well (and below the Aussies), while Pakistan have the potential to be in that trio.

I'd put Maharoof in there. Arnold isn't that useful at #7, but SL don't need 5 specialist bowlers if Dilshan and Jayasuriya do their usual 5th bowler duties. That said, perhaps Maharoof should come in for Bandara or Perera, depending on whether the pitch supports the seamers or the spinners. That would deepen the batting, which is pretty important because I don't think the Sri Lankan top order compares with that of Australia, India and Pakistan. Sangakarra should come in at #3, followed by Jayawardene, with Atapattu at #5. Otherwise, looks good.

India hasn't been tested on foreign soil yet, but I personally think South Africa and India are a notch above the rest as well (and below the Aussies), while Pakistan have the potential to be in that trio.

I don't think that the gaps between 2-7are big enough for any team to be overly confident of victory in the games between each of those teams though.